Hummingbirds

Feeder Locations

When selecting a spot for your hummingbird feeder, focus on reducing these key hazards - collision, fouling and predators.

Glass
Collision with glass is a major killer of hummingbirds visiting our feeders. We recommend that you place your feeder close (within 20 cm) or far away (over 5m) from glass (window or balcony). When the feeder is close to a window, the bird will slow down and so collisions are at low velocity. You can also make your glass more visible to birds using UV reflective stickers and shading (drawing blinds etc).

Fouling
Feeder protection from sun and weather In summer, feeders can foul quickly in the sun. Bacteria will convert the sugar to acids and alcohol and if hummingbirds are desperate for nectar, they can actually get drunk. This will not happen as quickly if you can keep the feeder shaded.
In winter, feeding ports can get clogged with snow in unprotected feeders. Hanging the feeder in a protected location (under eaves) will reduce the chance of snow build up.

Predators
Cats are the most common predator of hummingbirds here. Make sure your feeder is not in a location that they can access.

Wasps are other major feeder pest. They will dominate a feeder and deter hummingbirds. Bee baskets can sometimes be fitted on upright feeder ports. If you have a dish feeder, try keeping the nectar level well below the ports. The hummingbird’s tongue is long enough to reach the fluid, but it is much harder for wasps to access for nectar.

Bears enjoy a sweet treat so we need to keep them away from feeders. The key to feeding hummingbirds in areas with bears is to manage attractants properly. Bears are attracted by our waste (especially food waste) and seed feeders. Unless they already know what a feeder is, they won’t be attracted by them. If a bear learns about hummingbird feeders, it can become a nuisance. Hanging your feeders at least 4m up and at least 1m away from a pole or tree trunk. This seems high, but it is the height recommended by Parks Canada for campers caching food. The reason is that bears can jump and climb, so you don’t want to pace a feeder where they can reach it or pull it down. A pulley system will let you access the feeder for maintenance. You can also hang feeders from an upper level of your house, if you can access it easily from a window. Manage attractants - don’t leave accessible food waste or bird seed. Also, clean up any nectar that spills and rinse the area well with water. Learn about Bear Smart Communities.